I Scream for Disney Ice Cream

Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland has a turn of the century American town feel to its shops and stores.

Hollywood does not.

But now the Walk of Fame has a little section where its the 1900s again.

Disney’s Soda Fountain and Studio Store is open next door to the El Capitan on Hollywood Boulevard, featuring homemade ice cream from Dewar’s Ice Cream and Candies, a landmark in Bakersfield.

According to Ed Collins, a Montrose resident and the general manager of the store, El Capitan Theatre, originally built in 1926, was restored in 1991, and since then has been used by Disney as a movie theater. When they first opened the theater, they wanted to put in an old time ice cream parlor.

Unfortunately, the space next door had been occupied until last January when the Disney Store closed. This is when Walt Disney Studio Chairman Dick Cook opted to put in a soda fountain. He and a team traveled all over California sampling ice cream until they reached Dewar’s Family Ice Cream Parlor in Bakersfield. With all homemade ice creams and toppings, this was voted the best. And coincidentally, Cook grew up with Dewar’s when he lived in Bakersfield.

At the Disney Soda Fountain, there are six permanent flavors: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, peppermint, chocolate chip, and rocky road, as well as seasonal “flavors of the month.”

This month, Summer Peach and Cookies & Cream are out, and one of next month’s will be pumpkin, in preparation for Halloween.

In addition, with every big movie release at the theater, a sundae will accompany it. For “Herbie” and “Sky High,” the sundaes have come and gone. Next up is the “Nightmare Before Christmas” sundae and commemorative keepsake bowl that comes with each sundae. “Chicken Little” and “Cinderella” are also upcoming movies and sundaes.